10•12 Suspension and steering
Removal
1 Park the vehicle with the front roadwheels
pointing straight ahead. Turn the ignition
switch to the "OFF" position, but keep the key
in the barrel, to disarm the steering column
lock
2 Disconnect the battery negative cable, and
position it away from the terminal.
3 On vehicles fitted with a driver's
airbag/SRS, refer to Chapter 11, Section 28
and remove the airbag module and rotary
contact unit.
4 Remove the trim from non-airbag steering
wheels as follows. On three-spoke steering
wheels, prise out the triangular centre panel,
unhooking the rubber flanges from the spokes.
On four-spoke steering wheels, prise out the
circular badge panel from the centre of the
wheel.
5 Using a scribe or marker pen, mark the
relationship between the steering wheel and
steering column, then slacken, remove and
discard the centre nut and washer, as new
items must be used on refitting. Ensure that
the steering wheel is kept in the straight ahead
position throughout.
Caution: Do not use the ignition
switch steering lock to brace the
column whilst the nut is being
removed, as this may cause
damage.
Refitting
6 Ensure that the front roadwheels are still
pointing straight ahead.
7 Fit the steering wheel onto the shaft splines,
aligning the marks made during removal, and
engaging the direction indicator cancelling
collar lug with the switch lever.
16.8 Steering column-to-intermediate shaft
universal joint and lower bearing
A Upper pinch-bolt
B Lower bearing housing retaining bolts
8 Fit the new washer in place, then screw a
new nut on to the shaft thread, and tighten it to
the specified torque (see illustration).
Caution: Do not use the ignition
switch steering lock to brace the
column whilst the nut is being
removed, as this may cause
damage.
9 On vehicles fitted with a driver's
airbag/SRS, refer to Chapter 11, Section 28
and refit the rotary contact unit and airbag
module.
10 On three-spoke steering wheels, press the
wheel centre pad into place, ensuring that the
rubber flanges hook over the spokes.
11 On four-spoke steering wheels, press the
centre badge pad into place.
12 Road test the vehicle, to assess the steering
wheel-to-roadwheel alignment. With the vehicle
travelling in a straight line, the flat segment of
the steering should be horizontal. Substantial
misalignment means that the steering wheel has
been refitted one or more splines adrift on the
column; remove the wheel, rotate it as
appropriate and refit it. Slight misalignment
which cannot be eliminated by rotating the
steering wheel to the adjacent spline can be
corrected by adjusting the track rods by the
same amount (but in opposite directions) on
each side; refer to Sections 22 and 23 for details
of track rod length adjustment.
Removal
1 Disconnect the battery negative cable, and
position it away from the terminal.
2 Refer to Section 15 and remove the steering
wheel.
3 Remove the screws, then lift off the upper
and lower sections of the steering column
cowling; refer to Chapter 11 for details.
4 Cut the wiring harness cable-tie to detach it
from the steering column.
16.10 On vehicles fitted with a driver's
airbag/SRS, slacken and remove the
transverse bolt from the support bracket
(arrowed)
5 Refer to Chapter 12 and remove the column
stalk switch assembly. Label the cables to aid
refitting later, and tie them back out of the
work area.
6 Remove the screws and drop the sound
insulation panel away from the facia
underside; referring to Chapter 11 for details.
7 Remove the floor ventilation duct from
underneath the facia.
8 Locate the universal joint that connects the
steering column shaft to the intermediate
shaft. Slacken and remove the upper pinch-
bolt from the steering column side of the joint,
and pull it off the splined shaft (see
illustration).
9 Use circlip pliers to remove the circlip from
the base of the steering column shaft.
10 On vehicles fitted with a driver's
airbag/SRS, slacken and remove the
transverse bolt from the support bracket (see
illustration).
11 On vehicles fitted with a steering column
adjustment mechanism, use a centre-punch
as a drift, and drive the tubular dowel out of
the adjustment spindle. Make a note the
orientation of the spindle with respect to the
lock assembly casting, to aid the refitting
process. Slacken the nut at the end of the
spindle, then remove it together with the
washer, and draw the spindle out. Note: Use a
wrench fitted with a hex Allen bit to hold the
adjustment spindle stationary during this
operation.
12 Reach behind the facia, grasp the steering
column, and push it up out of the lower
bearing. The shaft, steering lock and ignition
switch can now be withdrawn as a complete
assembly.
Caution: Do not allow the two
halves of the steering column
splined joint to become
separated. Unplug the multi-plug
connector from the switch
terminals.
Refitting
13 Position the lock assembly over its
mounting position in the facia. Engage the
steering column with the lower bearing.
15.8 Fit the new washer in place, then
screw a new steering wheel nut on to the
shaft thread, and tighten it to the specified
torque (vehicle with SRS shown)
20 Fit the roadwheels and bolts, then lower
the vehicle to the ground and tighten the
roadwheel bolts to the specified torque. Refit
the wheel centre caps.